HOMING OF A GAMMA-DELTA THYMOCYTE SUBSET WITH HOMOGENEOUS T-CELL RECEPTORS TO MUCOSAL EPITHELIA

In mice γδ T-cell populations with distinct T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires and homing properties have been identified. Diversified populations are found in lymphoid organs1-3 and intestinal epithelia4,5. By contrast, the γδ T-cells Is that have been found in the murine skin are homogeneous. They express a TCR consisting of one particular Vγ5 and one particular V81 chain5,6 and seem to originate from early fetal thymocytes6,7. We have now systematically analysed many tissues by immunohistochemistry and TCR gene sequencing aided by the polymerase chain reaction. These studies revealed a second homogeneous γδ T-cell subset in epithelia not of the intestine and skin, but of the vagina, uterus and tongue. The TCR expressed by this γδ T-cell subset consists of the same Vδ1 chain. Cells that express this particular TCR have previously been shown to be positively selected in the late fetal thymus7. © 1990 Nature Publishing Group.